Culture preview 2012 | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/series/culture-preview-2012
We preview some of the cultural highlights of 2012en-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:31:09 GMT2018-03-19T15:31:09Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2018The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
The arts in 2012: the world goes pophttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/global-pop-arts-preview-2012
Caspar Llewellyn Smith on pop's new international pedigree<p>It used to be that when we thought of pop, we thought of Pete Townshend in his union flag jacket, or Geri Halliwell dressed in little more than her undies and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_PM2QCyzyI" title="">styled similarly</a> at the Brit awards. Or, from last year, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé in the video for Telephone, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=EVBsypHzF3U#t=466s" title="">masking their bits with the Stars and Stripes</a>. Or we might have thought of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pACePi441ds" title="">Eurovision</a>. But as they say in pop, it used to go like that, but now it goes like this: in recent years, some of the most interesting pop on the planet has&nbsp;been made in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw9CALKOvAI&amp;feature=player_embedded" title="">South Korea</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=8uXSB01Fzac#!" title="">Nigeria</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNUc99GUhg4&amp;feature=fvwp&amp;NR=1" title="">Mexico</a>, China, in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HagHyHn0eOM" title="">former&nbsp;Soviet republics</a> and in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH-ar_zgoqA&amp;feature=player_embedded#!" title="">South&nbsp;Africa</a>.</p><p>It's not just Damon Albarn who has twigged this, although one of the records I'm most looking forward to next year is the debut offering from his new band <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/30/honest-jons-chop-up-review" title="">Rocket Juice and the Moon</a>, which will feature <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/video/2011/dec/01/fatoumata-diawara-clandestin-live-video?INTCMP=SRCH" title="">Fatoumata Diawara</a> from Mali. Oh, and Albarn is planning to tour <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/mar/08/worldmusic" title="">Africa Express</a> around the UK in September. Kanye West is another musician now taking an interest in artists from far-flung corners of the world, recently working with <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&amp;view=bsp&amp;ver=ohhl4rw8mbn4" title="">K-pop&nbsp;trio&nbsp;JYJ</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/global-pop-arts-preview-2012">Continue reading...</a>Pop and rockMusicWorld musicDamon AlbarnElectronic musicBestivalCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:45:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/global-pop-arts-preview-2012Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty ImagesFestival triumphs ... Omar Souleyman. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty ImagesFestival triumphs ... Omar Souleyman. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty ImagesCaspar Llewellyn Smith2011-12-29T23:45:01ZThe arts in 2012: televisionhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/television-preview-2012
Richard Vine picks his highlights of the year ahead<p>If the words "pixie", "kooky" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/" title="">Zooey Deschanel</a>" are a turn-off, then this is not for you. If you're a fan, however, this is a breezy riff on the apartment-sharing sitcom that should sit well on a Friday night. Post-breakup Zooey splits the rent with three guys who don't know what to make of her singing, crying and Dirty Dancing marathons. <em>From 6&nbsp;January, Channel 4.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/television-preview-2012">Continue reading...</a>TelevisionTelevision & radioZooey DeschanelSebastian FaulksBooksEuro 2012Olympic Games 2012William ShakespeareJulia DavisCultureOlympic GamesThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/television-preview-2012Photograph: c.20thC.Fox/Everett / Rex Featur/PRThe pixie ... Zooey Deschanel (top) in New Girl Photograph: RexPhotograph: c.20thC.Fox/Everett / Rex Featur/PRThe pixie ... Zooey Deschanel (top) in New Girl Photograph: RexRichard Vine2011-12-29T23:30:00ZThe arts in 2012: the big nail-biter that is the Olympics opening ceremonyhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/olympics-opening-ceremony-2012-preview
Beijing threw $100m at its gobsmacking Olympics opening ceremony. Can Danny Boyle top it? Meanwhile, six cultural figures reveal what they'd like to see at their fantasy opening ceremony<p>On 27 July, the world will see an elaborate and costly British cinematic event: the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, directed by Oscar-winner <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/danny-boyle" title="">Danny Boyle</a>. What on earth is it going to be like? So far, all we know is that he is hiring 10,000 people as extras to be performers and percussionists, and that they will have to make themselves available to rehearse two or three times a week, from March until the big day. No further announcements will be made until the new year. But all followers of the cinema know that Boyle's opening ceremony will be Britain's screen spectacular of 2012.</p><p>The pressure is on for Boyle to deliver something of which we can all be proud, and it is no surprise that a movie director has been chosen. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUy9OgRRXnw" title="">opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing games</a> was stunning, costing approximately $100m and conceived by the director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0955443/" title="">Zhang Yimou</a> not as a live happening to be captured by television cameras, but as a screen artefact, requiring thousands and thousands of people in what was effectively a colossal outdoor studio. Parts of the gobsmacking firework display did not actually "happen": images were digitally inserted into the TV coverage at the right moment. This was an international multimedia event,&nbsp;conceived on a massive and cinematic scale.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/olympics-opening-ceremony-2012-preview">Continue reading...</a>CultureOlympic Games 2012Cultural OlympiadOlympics & the mediaMediaDanny BoyleTinchy StryderMusicOlympic GamesZhang YimouThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:20:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/olympics-opening-ceremony-2012-previewPhotograph: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesNo pressure … the stunning opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesNo pressure … the stunning opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty ImagesPeter Bradshaw2011-12-29T23:20:00ZThe arts in 2012: pophttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/pop-preview-2012
Alexis Petridis picks his highlights of the year ahead<p>One of 2011's low-key delights was Diamond Mine, the Mercury-nominated collaboration between Fife singer-songwriter King Creosote and electronic musician Jon Hopkins: the sheer quality and emotional impact of these songs was startling. From next month they play them live, including a&nbsp;gig at Brighton's atmospheric St&nbsp;George's Church. <em>Tour begins 26 January at Glasgow ABC. Box office: 0141-353 8000.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/pop-preview-2012">Continue reading...</a>Pop and rockMusicRapHot ChipLana Del ReyBlack KeysFlorence + the MachineDrakePaul WellerStone RosesCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:15:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/pop-preview-2012Photograph: Ian West/PASuitably vast … Florence + the Machine. Photograph: Ian West/PAPhotograph: Ian West/PASuitably vast … Florence + the Machine. Photograph: Ian West/PAAlexis Petridis2011-12-29T23:15:00ZThe arts in 2012: architecturehttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/architecture-2012-preview
Jonathan Glancey picks his highlights of the year ahead<br /><p>The cavernous old underground oil tanks beneath Tate Modern, the former Bankside power station, are due to reopen as performance and installation spaces in time for the Olympics. Connected to three new galleries, the tanks are the first phase of a £215m extension by Swiss architects Herzog &amp; de Meuron. <em>July. </em><a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/transformingtm/" title=""><em>tate.org.uk</em></a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/architecture-2012-preview">Continue reading...</a>ArchitectureArt and designTate ModernArtRenzo PianoAnish KapoorAnthony CaroSeptember 11 2001US newsThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:12:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/architecture-2012-previewPhotograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesRenzo Piano’s Shard London Bridge, western Europe’s tallest building. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesRenzo Piano’s Shard London Bridge, western Europe’s tallest building. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesJonathan Glancey2011-12-29T23:12:01ZThe arts in 2012: life after Twilight and Harry Potterhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/2012-preview-twilight-harry-potter
The franchises are over. What's in store for the liberated stars of these blockbuster series?<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/harrypotter" title="">Harry Potter</a> has bitten the dust; the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/culture/twilight" title="">Twilight Saga</a> is staggering to a close. While the film industry gets used to the idea that two of its biggest cash cows will no longer be delivering, 2012 marks the moment that a clutch of very rich, very famous actors, all in their late teens and early 20s, will be let loose on the cinematic world, to run their careers as they like.</p><p>Three of the most <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/dec/07/kristen-stewart-robert-pattinson-forbes" title="">bankable names</a> on the planet are Potter graduates: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/daniel-radcliffe" title="">Daniel Radcliffe</a>, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/emma-watson" title="">Emma Watson</a>, and Rupert Grint. Another three are from Twilight: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/robert-pattinson" title="">Robert Pattinson</a>, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. The Potter kids have been locked into their series for longer, and have had to negotiate a very public adolescence.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/2012-preview-twilight-harry-potter">Continue reading...</a>Science fiction and fantasyTwilightEmma WatsonRobert PattinsonDaniel RadcliffeHarry PotterFilmCultureThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/2012-preview-twilight-harry-potterPhotograph: Allstar/UNIVERSAL PICTURES/Sportsphoto Ltd./AllstarFairytale endings … Kristen Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman. Photograph: AllstarPhotograph: Allstar/UNIVERSAL PICTURES/Sportsphoto Ltd./AllstarFairytale endings … Kristen Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman. Photograph: AllstarAndrew Pulver2011-12-29T23:00:00ZThe arts in 2012: How the Paralympic Olympiad is tackling 2012https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/paralympic-olympiad-2012-preview
From Shakespeare in sign language to the voyage of the underwater wheelchair<p>Next year will shine a spotlight on the many top-notch art projects by, for and involving people with disabilities throughout the UK. The Cultural Olympiad will make a heavyweight contribution with its strand <a href="http://www.london2012.com/press/media-releases/2011/08/-700-000-awarded-to-artists-for-final-round-of-london-20.php" title="">Unlimited</a>, featuring dozens of innovative projects, from a large-scale dance work by <a href="http://www.candoco.co.uk/" title="">Candoco Company</a> to theatre piece The Ugly Spirit, inspired by the lives of conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker. Both London's South Bank and Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire will ring to the sounds of a "symphony of sirens" by musician <a href="http://www.mind-the-gap.org.uk/agency/actor_profiles/jez-colborne" title="">Jez Colborne</a>; the east Midlands will see 10,000 ceramic flowers bloom, in an installation by <a href="http://www.paulcumminsceramics.com/" title="">Paul Cummins</a>; while artist <a href="http://www.susanaustin.co.uk/" title="">Susan Austin</a>'s underwater wheelchair will make its way through the swimming pools of the south west.</p><p>A classic will be reinvented <a href="http://globetoglobe.shakespearesglobe.com/plays/loves-labours-lost/english-79" title="">at Shakespeare's Globe in May</a>, when Love's Labours Lost is performed in sign language. Elsewhere, The "d" Monologues aims to do for the disabled community what Eve Ensler's monologues have done for women.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/paralympic-olympiad-2012-preview">Continue reading...</a>Cultural OlympiadParalympics 2012Olympic Games 2012CultureDisabilityOlympic GamesThu, 29 Dec 2011 22:50:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/paralympic-olympiad-2012-previewPhotograph: Linda Nylind/GuardianA classic reinvented … Love's Labours Lost will be performed in sign language at Shakespeare's Globe in May. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the GuardianPhotograph: Linda Nylind/GuardianA classic reinvented … Love's Labours Lost will be performed in sign language at Shakespeare's Globe in May. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the GuardianAlex Needham2011-12-29T22:50:01ZThe arts in 2012: classicalhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/tomserviceblog/2011/dec/29/classical-2012-preview
Tom Service picks his highlights of the year ahead<p>More than a good pun – a good idea, too: <a href="http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Partnerships/Flagship-Programmes/New-Music-20x12" title="">20 new pieces, all 12 minutes long</a>, will premiere across the country throughout the year, from hardcore classical to jazz. Joe Cutler's Ping! has been composed for table-tennis players; there's Emily Howard's mini-opera on the life of Czech runner Emil Zátopek in Liverpool; plus David Bruce's Fire, an outdoor operatic spectacular, in Salisbury. All 20 pieces will be broadcast on Radio 3. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018mp23" title=""><em>Howard Skempton's Five Rings Triple is on Radio 3 tomorrow</em></a><em>. </em><a href="http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/festivals-series/prs-20x12" title=""><em>The&nbsp;Southbank Centre, London SE1, will&nbsp;feature all projects 13–15 July</em></a><em>. </em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tomserviceblog/2011/dec/29/classical-2012-preview">Continue reading...</a>Classical musicOperaMusicCultural OlympiadOlympic Games 2012CultureIgor StravinskyDaniel BarenboimMaurice SendakOscar WildeRoyal Opera HouseRichard WagnerOlympic GamesThu, 29 Dec 2011 22:20:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/tomserviceblog/2011/dec/29/classical-2012-previewPhotograph: Francesco Guazzelli/APStage magic … Oliver Knussen’s Where the Wild Things Are. Photograph: Francesco Guazzelli/APPhotograph: Francesco Guazzelli/APStage magic … Oliver Knussen’s Where the Wild Things Are. Photograph: Francesco Guazzelli/APTom Service2011-12-29T22:20:01ZThe arts in 2012: Hammer Horror goes literaryhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/hammer-horror-literature-winterson-dunmore
Alison Flood on the heavyweights turning their hands to things that go boo in the night<p><a href="http://www.helendunmore.com/" title="">Helen Dunmore</a>, <a href="http://www.jeanettewinterson.com/" title="">Jeanette Winterson</a> and Melvin Burgess: not the first people you'd imagine signing up to write for publishing imprint <a href="http://www.hammerfilms.com/news/article/newsid/300/hammer-books" title="">Hammer Horror</a>, home to bloodcurdling shrieks and helpless virgins. But sign up they have, and Dunmore, whose ghost story The Greatcoat is out in February, couldn't be prouder. Horror, it seems, is going literary.</p><p>"I love telling people about it. They're always very surprised," says Dunmore, a former winner of the Orange prize and National Poetry Competition. "Hammer approached me, asking if I would like to write a genre piece. I was very captivated by the idea."</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/hammer-horror-literature-winterson-dunmore">Continue reading...</a>HorrorFictionBooksJeanette WintersonHelen DunmoreCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 22:15:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/hammer-horror-literature-winterson-dunmorePhotograph: Photos 12/AlamyNew fangled … Hammer Horror star Christopher Lee. Photograph: Photos 12/AlamyPhotograph: Photos 12/AlamyNew fangled … Hammer Horror star Christopher Lee. Photograph: Photos 12/AlamyAlison Flood2011-12-29T22:15:01ZThe arts in 2012: dancehttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/dance-2012-preview
Judith Mackrell picks her highlights of the year ahead<p>Former Royal Ballet principal Ivan Putrov assembles a stellar cast to explore the virtuosity and range of male dancers. Putrov, Sergei Polunin,&nbsp;the Bolshoi's Dmitry Gudanov&nbsp;and Daniel Proietto perform&nbsp;an ambitiously collated programme, including a new work with&nbsp;design by Gary Hume. <em>Sadler's Wells, London EC1, 27–29 January. </em><a href="http://www.sadlerswells.com" title=""><em>sadlerswells.com.</em></a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/dance-2012-preview">Continue reading...</a>DanceStageBalletRambertMatthew BourneCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 22:07:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/dance-2012-previewPhotograph: Hugo Glendinning/PRDramatically taut … Play Without Words by Matthew Bourne. Photograph: Hugo GlendinningPhotograph: Hugo Glendinning/PRDramatically taut … Play Without Words by Matthew Bourne. Photograph: Hugo GlendinningJudith Mackrell2011-12-29T22:07:01ZThe arts in 2012: filmhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/film-preview-2012
Peter Bradshaw picks his highlights of the year ahead<p>Artist and film-maker Steve McQueen follows up his award-winning Hunger with this study of Brandon, a compulsive sex addict in Manhattan, played by Michael Fassbender. Brandon is forced to consider his life choices, and their origins, when his equally troubled sister (Carey Mulligan) comes to stay with him in his bachelor pad. <em>Released on 13 January.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/film-preview-2012">Continue reading...</a>ComedyDramaAction and adventureThrillerJames BondScience fiction and fantasyWorld cinemaFilmCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 21:45:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/film-preview-2012Photograph: PRSarah Paulson and Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May MarlenePhotograph: PRSarah Paulson and Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May MarlenePeter Bradshaw2011-12-29T21:45:06ZThe arts in 2012: bookshttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/books-preview-2012
Alison Flood picks her highlights of the year ahead<p><strong> </strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/books-preview-2012">Continue reading...</a>BooksIrvine WelshAndrew MotionEdna O'BrienMario Vargas LlosaCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 21:45:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/books-preview-2012Photograph: David Levene/GuardianHi ho Silver … Andrew Motion. Photograph: David Levene for the GuardianPhotograph: David Levene/GuardianHi ho Silver … Andrew Motion. Photograph: David Levene for the GuardianAlison Flood2011-12-29T21:45:03ZThe arts in 2012: visual artshttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/visual-art-2012-preview
Adrian Searle picks his highlights of the year ahead<p>Fancy a world trip? All Gagosian's 11&nbsp;galleries, from London to Hong Kong, will be filled with Hirst Spot paintings in January. This dotty explosion is a mere aperitif to Tate Modern's retrospective in April. How much of what he's done over the last quarter decade really makes the grade – and how much is hype? <em>The&nbsp;Complete Spot Paintings, Gagosian, London, 12 January to 18 February. Details: gagosian.com. Damien Hirst, Tate Modern, London SE1, 5 April to 9&nbsp;September. Details: </em><a href="http://tate.org.uk" title=""><em>tate.org.uk</em></a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/visual-art-2012-preview">Continue reading...</a>ArtArt and designDamien HirstDavid ShrigleyDavid HockneyGillian WearingLucian FreudCultureThu, 29 Dec 2011 21:45:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/visual-art-2012-previewPhotograph: Jonathan Wilkinson/PRA detail from Winter Timber by David Hockney Photograph: Jonathan WilkinsonPhotograph: Jonathan Wilkinson/PRA detail from Winter Timber by David Hockney Photograph: Jonathan WilkinsonAdrian Searle2011-12-29T21:45:00ZThe arts in 2012: the British blind spothttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/arts-preview-2012-cultural-olympiad
Mark Lawson kicks off our 2012 arts special by looking at how the Olympic Games will highlight the cracks in our culture<p>A theatre director recently told me that he would not be applying for the currently vacant job of artistic director of the <a href="http://www.rsc.org.uk/" title="">Royal Shakespeare Company</a>, because he wasn't sure what&nbsp;any of the three words in the organisation's name mean any more: monarchy, Elizabethan authorship and permanent acting troupes are all concepts currently in flux. In the same way, anyone seeking to promote "British culture" – a key marketing concept in the year of the 2012 London Olympics – faces the problem that the definition of the United Kingdom is contracting while the definition of culture is expanding.</p><p>Many things that would seem to qualify for a notional British pavilion in an entertainment fair soon require to be subject to qualification. <a href="http://xfactor.itv.com/" title="">The X Factor</a> is definitely British – but is it culture? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_tbnTM7zVE" title="">My Week with Marilyn</a>, set and filmed in the UK with an English director (Simon Curtis), but an American lead actress (Michelle Williams) and production, is definitely culture – but is it British?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/arts-preview-2012-cultural-olympiad">Continue reading...</a>TheatreStageRoyal Shakespeare CompanyWilliam ShakespeareCharles DickensBooksFilmDavid TennantTelevisionTelevision & radioCultural OlympiadOlympic Games 2012CultureOlympic GamesThu, 29 Dec 2011 21:31:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/dec/29/arts-preview-2012-cultural-olympiadPhotograph: Epics/Getty ImagesCultural poster boy? ... a stained-glass window at the Charles Dickens museum. Photograph: Epics/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Epics/Getty ImagesCultural poster boy? ... a stained-glass window at the Charles Dickens museum. Photograph: Epics/Getty ImagesMark Lawson2011-12-29T21:31:01Z